A local Taekwondo studio has shown what Grande Prairie can do in competition. Twenty-one students from Gladiators MMA recently represented Canada at the inaugural Chan Hun International Taekwondo Federation’s World Taekwondo Tournament in Melbourne, Australia. Local athletes brought home 15 gold, eight silver and four bronze.
2nd-degree black belt Chad Bartelds was the only Grande Prairie double gold winner. He took medals in both the veteran male 1-2 degree pattern division and the plus 90-kilogram veteran male sparing division.
Gladiators Head Instructor and Team Canada Coach Louis Martinez was presented with the outstanding instructor award. The overall Team Canada medal count was 24 gold, 11 silver and four bronze.